MSU offers free laundry to keep students in dorms

Residents-only perk set to begin this fall

Jan. 7, 2013

Written by

Detroit Free Press Staff Writer

Michigan State University students are going to have a lot more quarters in their pockets next year.

The university is going to make laundry free in all its residence halls, which means no more digging through the cushions in the couch for that last quarter to make sure there's something clean to wear to class. The program starts in all dorms in the fall.

"This is an amenity that we thought we could easily offer to our students," said Kathy Collins, MSU's director of residence education and housing services.

The move is one way for the university's housing to compete with private apartments around the university, Collins said.

MSU sophomore Colleen Anthes, 20, of St. Johns, agrees.

"I think it's probably a smart move on their part. The housing competition in East Lansing is so intense that if you want a good deal on a good place to live for the next year, you have to be sure to sign a lease almost a year ahead of time."

Currently, MSU students living in residence halls can pay for their laundry with quarters or with Spartan Cash, which is money stored on their ID cards.

All the loads of laundry can add up.

MSU estimates the average student does about 18 loads of laundry per semester, which equates to about $90 per year. Overall, MSU students spent more than $1.3 million on laundry last year, school officials said.

The new system will leave the current money machines on the washers and dryers. Students will swipe their ID cards, which will then be looked up in the housing database. If they are living in the residence halls, then the machines will be free. Since the residence halls also are used for conferences and summer camps, the machines will still charge for non-residence hall students who might use the machines.

The move isn't unparalleled across the nation. Several universities offer it as a perk and a way of attracting students to live in residence halls.

"I'm a little angry that the laundry service is being given when I'll be moved out of the dorms, but I think it's a step in the right direction for the school in terms of offering students services," said MSU sophomore Joseph Lamberti, 19, of Berkley.

"Hopefully, in the future, they'll start offering us more for free, like gym usage, free bus passes, cheaper/free parking, etc."

An average MSU in-state freshman is paying $8,526 this year in housing for a double room and a meal plan, according to MSU's website.